Luminex Trading & Analytics LLC, a buy side-owned trading venue for block executions, has hired industry veteran Ilisa Gruber as a sales and relationship manager.

Based in Chicago, Gruber will oversee Luminex's relationships with top clients among its more than 200 buy-side, institutional investors.

Most recently Gruber spent 18 years at Liquidnet, where she was initially hired as the firm's first sales trader and helped grow the business into a global institutional investment network. Earlier in her career, she worked at leading firms including Thomas Weisel Partners, Schroders & Company and CS First Boston.

"Luminex is more than a trading venue; it's a buy-side community," said Jonathan Clark, Luminex CEO. "Like any community, it depends on its relationships for its success, and throughout her career, Ilisa has demonstrated an amazing ability to connect with clients and deliver for them. With a focus on block trading, she's a perfect fit for our team as our existing participants engage more with Luminex, and as we grow our business in the Midwest region."

"Our team is laser-focused on block trading, while some competitors try to be all things to all people," said Gruber. "I'm excited to be joining the team as we deepen our relationships, and create new ones, in the Midwest and around the country."